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Spring 2004
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And
the Winner is…
 Brooke
Hansen (BA ’03) had never been in a pageant before.
But there she was—one of two women left on the stage in
the Miss Iowa USA pageant.
“ When they called my name that I’d won, I was floored,”
she said. “I was shaking and crying and the past Miss
Iowa said, ‘Brooke, you have to stand still, I can’t
get this crown on your head!’ it was the sweetest moment
ever.”
One thing that made the 22-year-old’s victory even sweeter
was having her mom there to see it. Hansen’s mom, Carla,
is in her third round of chemotherapy treatments for breast
cancer.
“It meant so much to my mom,” Hansen said. “I
feel so fortunate that I’m able to give her something
to look forward to—something to plan and hold on for.”
In honor of her mom, Hansen declared breast cancer awareness
as one of her platforms during her yearlong reign. The other
is promoting literacy among elementary school students.
To promote literacy, Hansen, who majored in elementary education
with a reading and language arts emphasis, visits elementary
schools and reads to the students.
After she reads to them and leads a discussion on the moral
of the story, she lets the kids ask her anything they want.
“One little girl asked me if I live in a castle and have
horses and a prince,” she said with a laugh. “They
do ask the silliest questions.”
 One
of the schools Hansen visited was Nodland Elementary School
in Sioux City, Iowa. Principal Karen Hess said the children
at her school (grades K-2) really enjoyed Hansen’s visit.
“When she walked in the room everyone was in awe of her,
their jaws dropped, it was remarkable,” Hess said.
To promote breast cancer awareness, Hansen, originally from
Fort Dodge, is planning a 5K run-walk and will be the grand
marshal of a breast cancer parade in Ottumwa, Iowa, on Mother’s
Day.
Unfortunately, her mom’s ill health has caused Hansen
to spend plenty of time in hospitals. But she uses that time
as an opportunity to continue working on her platform.
 “I’ll
usually go and visit some of the other patients in the cancer
ward and talk with the doctors while I’m there,”
she said.
The Miss USA pageant will take place April 12 in Los Angeles.
Hansen said that she’s spent “every breathing second”
preparing for it since being named Miss Iowa. She works with
a personal trainer, has constant dress fittings, and a long
shopping list of things she’ll need in the three weeks
contestants spend in Los Angeles.
When her life has calmed down again, Hansen hopes to apply for
teaching jobs.
“I really want to teach, because that is where my heart
is filled the most,” she said. “Maybe this pageant
will help me get there.” – by Heather McElvain
| "We
cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected
by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic
fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as
results." Herman Melville |
 
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